Honing device for slicing blade



o. GARAPoLo 2,911,857

HONING DEVICE FOR SLICING BLADE 2 Sheets-SheetI 1 Nov. 10, 1959 FiledJune 6, 1956 NOV. 10, 1959 Q, GARAPQLO 2,911,857

HONING DEVICE FOR SLICING BLADE Filed June 6. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -pIy 5 h m n 5 mm ..3 w m 1 m mi 2 LOL y. M l LI MA States Patent yv2,911,357 HoNlNG DEVICE non sLIclNG BLADE Orlando Garapolo, Chicago,Ill., assignor to Wilson & Co., Inc., a corporation of DelawareApplication June 6, 1956, Serial No. 589,745

9 Claims. (Cl. 76-85) This invention relates to a honing device forslicing blades, and particularly to a device for honing the cutting edgeof a spirally shaped blade, such as a bacon slicing knife, withoutremoving it from its housing.

Bacon slicing knives operate at substantial speed, and the bacon must belsliced uniformly thin. Accordingly, the cutting edge of the blade mustbe kept constantly in proper condition for eiiicient slicing. Heretoforethese blades have been honed by hand, but the curvature and thetransverse angularity of the cutting edge have cornbined to make handhoning a slow and laborious process. In addition, a great degree ofskill is required to properly hone an angular edge curved in the spiralshape of bacon slicing knives.

' In accordance with the present invention a honing tool in the form ofa pin is mounted at the angle required, and is held against the cuttingedge of the blade'by a mechanical device. No skill is required to holdthe honing pin against the edge at the proper angle. Guide means forinsuring proper alignment of the honing device is` `permanently securedto the blade housing frame out of the way of the knife. The guide meansfacilitates proper positioning of the honing device so that it may beapplied quickly to the blade housing frame and readily removed after theedge of the slicing blade is properly honed.

The structure by means of which the above and other advantages of theinvention are attained will be described in the following specilication,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferredillustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

' `Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing a knife rotatablymounted in a housing, with the honing device of the` present inventiondetachably mounted on the blade housing frame;

Fig. 2'is a cross sectional view, taken along the line Fig. '3 is -afragmentary perspective view of the blade housing frame, with theguidebar for the honing device secured thereto; v

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a honing device embodying theinvention;

Fig.,5 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the vhoningdevice;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of the honing device;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. l,but omitting the blade housing frame; and

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 9 -9 of Fig. 7,but showing the honing pin in engagement with they cutting edge of aslicing blade.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral V2 indicatesa bacon slicing knife mounted on a rotatable shaft 3 adjacent the frame4 of a suitable housing. A motor (not shown) rotates knife 2 in avertical plane in clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1. The knife isshaped like a spiral so thatits cutting engagement with rlice a slab ofbacon fed transversely of ythe knife by any suitable mechanism isprogressive from the initial engagement until the slice is completelysevered. It will be understood that the word spiral is used generically,and that the honing device may be used with cutting blades of any shape.The knife is also curved in cross section, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.The outer edge 5, formed by the intersection of angular surfaces 6 and 7is very thin, and the surface 6 must be honed to keep the edge extremelysharp.

A guide bar 8 is rigidly ysecured -to `the housing frame 4 by screws 9.Guide bar 8 extends horizontally and its inner end is spaced from shaft3 a distance approximately equal to the distance from shaft 3 to theportion of the cutting edge closest thereto. The thickness of guide bar8 is less than the distance between cutting edge 5 and the front surfaceof blade housing frame 4 to prevent the guide bar from interfering withthe rotation of slicing blade 2.

The honing device comprises a pair of honing plates 10 and 11, a honingtool or pin 12, a honing pin holder 13, a spring pressed plate 14, acenter plate 15, a spacer plate 16, and a holding plate 17. Honingplates 10 and 11 are secured to plate 14 by screws 14 (Fig. 9). Plates15, 16 and 17 are Varranged with one end of each flush with the othersand are rigidly secured together by means of screws 18. Plate 16 isshorter than plates 15 and 17 and provides a space between them beyondits -inner end. 'I'he honing device is adapted to straddle one edge ofhousing frame 4 with the inner end of `spacer plate 16 abutting theedge, and plates 15 and 17 adjacent opposite surfaces of the housingframe. Spacer plate 16 is slightly thicker than housing frame 4 tofacilitate movement of the honing device relative to the housing frameso that the honing device may be easily positioned. When Ithe lower edgeof center plate 15 abuts the upper edge of guide bar 8, and the innerend of spacer plate 16 abuts the peripheral edge of housing frame 4, thehoning device is secured in place. A screw 19, threaded through holdingplate 17, is tightened against therear surface yof housing frame 4 tosecure the honing device in place. Screw 19 is preferably provided witha wing lhead 20 to facilitate manual turning of the screw.

Plate 14 is secured to center plate 15 by means of screws 21, 22 and 23.Plate 15 is provided adjacent one end with a threaded aperture 24 intowhich screw 21 is threaded. Plate 14 is provided with a smooth aperture25 to receive the shank of screw 21. The front end of aperture 25 iscounterbored, as indicated at 26, to receive the head 27 of screw 21.The bottom edge of the counterbored portion of aperture 25 limitsoutward movement of plate 14 relative to plate 15, but does not affectits inward movement. The inward movement of plate 14 is limited by therear side of honing plate 10 or =1.1 which abuts the open end of thecounterbored aperture.

Plate 15 is provided adjacent its opposite end with a threaded aperture28 into which screw 22 is threaded. Plate 14 is provided with a smoothaperture 29 to receive the shank of screw 22. Screw 22 is longer thanscrew 21 and extends entirely through plate 14 with its head 30 abuttingthe front surface of the plate. Head 30 also functions as a stop memberfor honing pin holder 13, as

hereinafter described.

screw `23. One end of spring 36 bears against plate 14 Y Y andthe otherend bears against plate 15 to keep these As shown in Fig. 6, plate 14has a longitudinal channel 37 disposed along the center line of itsfront surface. The inner edges 38 and 39 of honing plates 10 and 11,respectively, are spaced from the edges of channel 37 to provide ledges40 and 41 on opposite edges of channel 37. Inner edges 3S and 39 of thehoning plates extend upwardly from the surface of plate 14 at convergingangles. Plates 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 and 17 constitute a frame in which thehoning pin holder 13 is slidably mounted. The side walls of honing pinholder 13 are straight at their lower portions which are adaptedto t inthe bottom of channel 37, and are provided with shoulders 42 and 43(Fig. 7) to seat on ledges 40 and 41. The side wall portions of thehoningpin holder 13 above shoulders 42 are iiared inwardly to fitagainst the inner edges 38 and 39 of the honing plates and to provide asliding fit that will not permit removal of the honing pin holder fromchannel 37. Head 30 of screw 22 is positioned in channel 37 adjacent oneend of the channel to prevent honing pin holder 13 from sliding out ofthe channel. Spring pressed plate 14 is considerably longer than plate15 and, therefore, screw 21, which is positioned adjacent the end ofplatel15 is spaced a considerable distance inwardly of the opposite endof channel 37. Accordingly, a separate screw 44 is-threaded into plate14 adjacent the opposite end from screw 22, and its head extends intochannel 37 to prevent honing pin holder 13 from sliding out that end ofthe channel.

Honing pin holder 13 is provided with a handle 45 to facilitate slidingmovement in cannel 37 between screws 22 and 44. Handle 45 is providedwith a reduced end 46 (Fig. 8) threaded into honing pin holder 13.Holder 13 is also provided with lan angularly extending aperture 47 intowhich honing pin 12 is drive fitted. The honing pin is made of oilhardening tool steel, and is preferably provided with a medium straightknurl. Honing plates and 11 are provided adjacent the side walls ofchannel 37 with smooth outer surfaces 48 and 49, respectively, againstwhich the back edge 7 of bacon slicing knife 2 abuts when the front edge6 is being honed. The angle of the honing tool or pin 12 coincides withthe angle of surface 6 when surface 7 is flush against surfaces 48 and49. The front edge of honing pin holder 13 projects outwardly beyondsurfaces 48 and 49. The front surface of holder 13 to the left of honingpin 12, as seen in Fig. 8, is recessed, as indicated at 50, to provideclearance so that the back surface of knife 2 will abut the smoothsurfaces 48 and 49 when the knife edge is being honed.

When the bacon slicing knife is to be honed, the honing device is pushedover the edge of housing frame 4 with plates l5 and 17 straddling theedge of the housing frame above guide bar 8. The honing device is thenmoved downwardly and inwardly until the lower edge of plate 15 is flushagainst the top edge of guide bar 8 and the inner edge of plate 16 abutsthe peripheral edge of housing frame 4. Screw 19 is then tightened tohold the honing device against movement relative to the housing frame.

A detachable handle 51 is secured in either of two apertures 52 (Fig. l)provided therefor, and knife 2 is manually rotated until the portion ofcutting edge 5 that is closest to shaft 3 is adjacent the inner end ofthe honing device. The honing pin holder 13 is then slid in channel 37until honing tool or pin 12 is ush against surface 6 of the knife. Theoperator holds handle 51 in one hand and handle 45 in the other. As herotates knife 2 in a clockwist dirlectionv by manipulation of.

handle 51 he holds honing pin 12 against the surface 6 while permittingit to move outwardly in accordance with the spiral curvature of theknife. Although the back side of the knife is generally smooth, it mayhave some slight irregularity. Springs 36 tend to keep honing plates 1t)and 11 against the back surface of the knife, and if these plates areforced rearwardly by any irregularity in the back surface of the knife,ysprings 36 will return the honing platesY totheir' proper positionimmediately after the irregularity has passed the. surfaces 48 and 49.The knife edge is honedwithout removing the knife from its operativeposition. As soon as the honing operation is completed screw 19isloosened, and the honing device is readily removed from1the housingframe. The guide bar 8 does not interfere with the regular operation ofthe knife and may remain on the housing frame permanently.

Although I'have described a preferred embodiment of the invention inconsiderable detail', `it will be under-y stood that the descriptionthereof is intendedv to beillusf trative, rather than restrictive, asmany' details may bey modied or changed without departingV from thespirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to berestricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

l. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably4 mounted in a housing,said device comprising a guide bar rigidly secured to said housing, aframe detachably secur able to said housing with one edge abuttingsaid'. guide bar and one part abutting an edge of said housing, saidframe including a honing plate on one side thereofaA holder slidablymounted in said frame adjacent said honing plate, and a honing toolmounted in saidholder, said honing tool projecting from said holderangularly relative to the plane of said honing plate.

2. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably mounted in a housing,said device comprising a guidebar rigidly secured to said housing, aplate secured to said housing with one edge abutting an-edge of saidguide bar', a spring pressed platehsecured to saidrst mentionedplate,said spring pressedY plateV having its outer surface juxtaposed againstthe rear surface of said slicing. blade,

the outer surface of said spring pressed plate having. a-

channel extending longitudinally therein, a holder slidably mounted insaid channel, and a honing tooll angularly mounted in said holder toengage thefront surfaceof Asaid slicing blade adjacent its peripheraledge.

3. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably mounted in a housing,said device comprising a guide bar rigidly secured to said housing,a-plate secured to said housing with one edge abutting an edge of saidguide bar, a spring pressed plate secured to said first mentioned plate,the outersurface of said. spring pressed' vplate having a channelextending longitudinally therein,la pair of honing plates secured to theouter lsurface: cfu-said spring pressed plate on opposite edges of said`channel, said honing plates each having an outer surface juxtaposedagainst the rear surface of `said slicing blade,. a honing pin holderslidably mounted in said channel,` anda honing'pin angularly mounted insaid holder tofengage the front surface of said slicing blade adjacentits' peripheral edge.

4. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably mounted in a housing,said device comprisinga guide bar rigidly secured to said housing, aplate secured to. said housing with one edge abutting anV edge ofy saidguide bar, a spring pressed plate secured to said first mentioned plate,the outer surface of said'spring pressed plate having.

a channel extending longitudinally therein, a pairy of honing platessecured to the outer surfacefof saidspring pressed plate on oppositeedges of said channel, eachof. said honingiplates having, its inner edgespacedfromathe adjacent edge of said channeland its outer edge juxta-vposed ag'ainstf the rear surface of saidA slicing blade, the

inner edges of. said honing. plates extending'upwardly. at-

converging angles, a honing pin holder slidably mounted in said channel,said holder having edges shaped to lit between said inner edges of saidhoning plates, and a honing pin angularly mounted in said holder toengage the front surface of said slicing blade adjacent its peripheraledge.

5. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably mounted adjacent ahousing and having a cutting edge spaced at varying distances from theaxis upon which said blade is mounted, said honing device comprising aframe having a spring pressed plate and a honing plate rigidly securedto said spring pressed plate, a honing pin, means slidably mounted insaid frame for supporting said honing pin in fixed angular relationshipto said honing plate, means for detachably securing said frame to saidhousing with said honing plate in engagement with the rear surface ofsaid slicing blade and said honing pin engageable with the front surfaceof said slicing blade adjacent its peripheral edge, and means to movesaid honing pin laterally relative to said honing plate to keep it incontact with said cutting edge as said slicing blade is rotated.

6. A honing device for a rotatably mounted slicing blade having aspirally curved cutting edge, said cutting edge being angular in crosssection, a frame mounted adjacent the rear surface of said slicingblade, said frame including a spring pressed plate having alongitudinally extending channel in one surface thereof, a honing platerigidly secured to said spring pressed plate, a honing pin holderslidably mounted in said channel, and a honing pin mounted in said frameat an angle coincident with the angularity of said cutting edge, saidhoning plate and pin being engageable with opposite surfaces of saidspirally curved cutting edge throughout its rotational movement.

7. A honing device for a rotatably mounted slicing blade having aspirally curved cutting edge, means for rotating said blade, the frontsurface of said blade contiguous to said cutting edge being angular, aframe mounted adjacent the rear surface of said slicing blade, saidframe including an undercut channel, a honing plate secured to onesurface of said frame adjacent one edge Cil of said channel to engagethe rear surface of said slicing blade, a honing pin holder mounted insaid undercut channel, and a honing pin mounted in said holder, saidhoning pin extending from said holder at an angle equal to the angle ofthe angular surface of said blade, said honing pin holder being slidablein said channel to hold said honing pin in contact with said angularsurface of said blade as said blade is rotated,

8. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably mounted in a housing,said device comprising a frame detachably securable to the housing, saidframe including a honing plate engageable with one surface of saidslicing blade, a holder mounted in said frame adjacent said honingplate, said holder being slidable longitudinally of said honing plate,and a honing tool mounted in said holder, said honing tool projectingangularly beyond the outer surface of said honing plate to engage thesurface f said slicing blade opposite the surface engaged by said honingplate.

9. A honing device for a slicing blade rotatably mounted in a housing onan axis extending transversely of said housing, a frame detachably xedto said housing, said frame including a honing plate extending radiallyof vsaid aXis, the inner end of said honing plate being positioned toengage one surface of said slicing blade along the portion ofthe cuttingkedge closest to said axis, said honing plate having sufcient length toengage the entire length of said cutting edge as said slicing blade isrotated, and a honing tool slidably mounted on said frame adjacent saidhoning plate to engage the opposite surface of said slicing blade alongits entire length as said slicing blade is rotated.

ReferenceslCited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS680,045 Hopkins Aug. 6, 1901 783,464 Root Feb. 28, 1905 2,207,433Haswell July 9, 1940 2,486,797 Meyer Nov. 1, 1949 2,721,430 Green et alOct. 25, 1955 2,738,628 Lust Mar. 20, 1956

